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K,HYMES OF 
UlTTLE 330YS 



BY 



BURGES JOHNSON 



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RHYMES OF LITTLE BOYS 




RHYMES OF 
LITTLE BOYS 




THOMAS Y. CROWELL <fe CO., PUBLISHERS 

NEW YORK 



i 3 J 



U3RARY of OONQSESS 
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Cou^ngni crtirjti 

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COPY 3. 



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Copyright, 1905, 
By Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 



Published in September. 









TO MY FATHER AND MOTHER 

For Whose Earthly Acceptance this Loving Tribute 

Came too Late 

This Book is Dedicated 



Little Boy Realm is far afield, 
And blind is the road, they say ; 

But the King and Queen, by the po^iver 
they ivield. 
May leadf or may bring away^ 

Kindly firm is the royal rule, 
Kind are the kingly eyes ; 

And day by day sees gentler sway 
* Neath sunny boy land skies. 

But wander-spirits calling us, 
Or sunbeams lingering fond 

On some vague peak, roused us to 
A path to the beyond. [seek 

That loving, kingly hand reached out 
To shoulders, level high ; 

Some spark there ran, as man to man, 
And boyhood's realm flew by ! 



Gently sweet is the gracious Queen, 
Love dwells within her eyes ; 

And day by day she toils away 
To weave some new surprise. 

Her little kingdom brooks no change; 

Though some may roam afar, 
Its hearth-fires burn against return, 

And every door's ajar. 

A tired head against her knees. 
Dear chidings, grave or gay. 

And 'neath her hand this grown-up 
Slips suddenly away. [land 

Little Boy Realm lies toivard the da^ivn, 
But the high<wdy none may know; 

And oh, if the King and Queen be gone, 
Ho%v then may I come and go ? 



AUTHOR'S NOTE 

To be truly learned in the ivays of small 
boys ivere no small distinction; such learning is 
a realm by itself to the anthropologist* The 
^writer makes no pretence of it* The memories 
of one small boy are his only data, and he has 
no dispute 'with those m)ho may ha've used a 
different text-book* As to the many alleged 
small-boy dialects, it is his comforting impression 
that no t<Tvo small boys e'ver talked Just alike; 
if, therefore, the destruction of King's English 
is not consistent throughout, let that impression 
account for it* Instinct has been follom)ed, 
rather than rule* 

The rhymes in this collection are of t<zvo 
'varieties, — those in the ivords of little boys, 
and those to or about little boys; the latter are 
grouped together at the end of the book* Many 
of these rhymes 'were originally copyrighted in 
the magazines; sincere thanks are due to the 
se'veral Harper periodicals, St* Nicholas, Every- 
body's Magazine, and Leslie's Weekly, among 
others, f^or permission to use them here* 

B.J* 



CONTENTS 



What's the Use? 
What Puzzles Me 
'Member? 
Spring Tonics 
Goin' Barefoot 
Superstishus 
Bein' Sick 
Gettin' Well 
W^isdom 
Cookin' Things 
Rain-Charm 
Bed-Time 
Apple Pie 
Babies . 
In the Study 
Duty Call 
Ketchin' Rides 
'F I Was er Horse 
An Imagining 
In the Morning 
Sympathetic . 
Special W^ords 
At the Zoo 
A Recollection 
Makin' Things 
Gettin' Washed 
Illogical 
Pirate's Cave 
Daytime Naps 
Prayer for a Little 
Top-Time 
Kite-Time 



f 



Boy 



Page 

I 

3 

5 

7 
8 

10 
12 

14 
i6 

17 
19 

21 

23 

25 
26 

27 

28 

30 
31 
32 

33 
35 
36 
38 

39 
40 

42 

43 

45 

47 
48 

50 



CONTENTS 











Page 


Ball-Time 52 


Swimmin'-Time . 








• 53 


Nuttin'-Time 








55 


Snowball-Time 








. 57 


My Sore Thumb . 








- 59 


Rejected 








. 61 


The Wind . 








. 62 


Things that Get Lost . 








. 63 


Excuses . . 








. 65 


Vacation in the Countn 


y 






. 66 


Sewin' Buttons On 








. 68 


Our Gang 








. 70 


Nurses .... 








. 73 


Buildin' Fires 








• 74 


"Was You Ever Spankei 


d? . 






. 76 


Dressin' Up . 








. n 


A Fable .... 








' 79 


A Newsboy's Plaint 








. 81 


Unfulfilment . 








. 84 


Then and Now 








. 86 


Santa Claus . . , 








. 88 


Playing in the Leaves , 








. 90 


First Sweethearts 








. 91 


Her Valentines 








. 92 


Baby John 








. 94 


Baby's Eyes . 








. 95 


A Lullaby 








. 97 


In Memoriam 








. 100 


Sleepykins 








. 102 



WHAT'S THE USE? 

What's the use o' growin' up? 

You can't paddle with yer toes 
In a puddle — you can't yell 
When yer feelin' extra well — 

Why every feller knows 
A grown-up can't let loose. 
I don't Ji)ant to be no older — 
What's the use ? 

What's the use o' growin' up ? 

When I'm big I don't suppose 
Explorin' would be right 
In a neighbor's field at night — 

I won't like to get my clo'se 
All watermelon juice. 
I don't want to be no older — 
What's the use? 

What's the use o' growin' up? 

You couldn't ride the cow, 
An' the rabbits an' the pig 
Don't like you 'cause yer big, 

I'm comfortublest now — 
P'r'aps I am a goose. 



!Sl)pme^ of %ittlt ^txp^ 



I don't want to be no older — 
What's the use ? 

What's the use o' growin' up? 

When yer growed, why every day 
You just have to be one thing^ 
Fm a pirate, er a king, 

Er a cowboy — I can play 
That I'm anything I choose. 
I don't want to be no older — 
What's the use? 



iii^l^mt$ of %ittlt 25opia? 



WHAT PUZZLES ME 

There's something I'm awfully Oinx- 
ious to know, 

I think it's important as it can be — 
S'pose it had happened beforehand so 
That I was somebody else but me? 
Then some other boy would be your 

little boy, 
An' love you more than a tongue- 
can -tell ; 
I wonder would he be his muvver's- 

An' smooth her headaches to make 
them well ? 

— Cause I think ifs funny as it can be. 
That you is you, an' me is me* 

I've worried and bothered for mos' 
a day, 

'Termining what I should ever do, 

If things should be 'ranged in a dif- 
ferent way. 

An' you should be somebody else 
but you. 

You'd live in some nother place but 
here — 

3 



It|)pmei0f of Hittle 25op^ 



Far away, maybe — but anyhow, 
I'm perfectly positive. Mother dear, 
I'd love you 'zactly as much as now. 
— But I think it's funny as it can be. 
That you is you, an' me is me* 

If you was somebody else but you, 

P'r'aps we'd meet in the street 
some day. 

An' /Vbe p'lite an' say **Howdado!" 

An' "What a nice little boy!" you'd 
say. 

Then we'd walk for almost a block, 
before 

I'd tell you just who I was — an' 
then — 

You wouldn't be somebody else any- 
more, 

An' I'd be your little boy again. 

— An I think it's funny as it can be. 

That you is you, an me is me. 



a^pmt^ of %ittlt 25opief 



'MEMBER? 

'Member, awful long ago — 
Most a million weeks or so — 
How we tried to run away 
An' was gone for most a day ? 
Your Pa found us bofe, and ven 
Asked if we'd be bad again, 
An' we promised, by-um-by. 
Do you 'member ? So d' I. 

'Member when I tried to crawl 
Frough vat hole beneaf your wall, 
An' I stuck becuz my head 
Was too big ? Your Muvver said, 
When she came to pull me frough, 
S'prised you didn't try it too. 
An' you did it, by-um-by. 
'Member ? Doy"? So do I. 

'Member once, when you an' me 
Found your Muvver' s pantry key ? 
All ve folks stayed out till late, 
An' we ate an' ate an' ate! 
Ma was s'prised, so she confessed, 
Vat we didn't eat ve rest. 



tii^pmtfi of kittle 2Bop^ 



An* we did it, by-um-by. 
Course you 'member? So d* I. 

* Member when your Muvver said 
'At she wisht I'd run an' do 
All ve mischief in my head 
All at once an' get it frough ? 
S'pose we did, why maybe ven 
We could do it all again! 
Guess we could if we should try. 
Will y' sometime ? So'll I. 



B 



Ul^pme^ of %xttlt ^op$ 



SPRING TONICS 

I love it when th* folks begin 
To give us kids our medicine ; 
Tve tasted lots o' things that's worse. 
I'm oldest, so they feed me first, 
An' when it comes their turns then I 
Just yell an' dance an' make 'em cry! 



Mlivmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



GOIN* BAREFOOT 
It's more fun goin' barefoot than 

anythin' I know. 
There ain't another single thing that 

helps yer feelin's so. 
Some days I stay in Muvver's room 

a-gettin' in her way, 
An' when I've bothered her so much 

she sez, ** Oh run and play," 
I say, '' Kin I go barefoot ? " En she 

sez, " If y' choose; " 
Nen I alwuz wanter holler when I'm 

pullin' off my shoes ! 

It's fun a-goin' barefoot when yer 

playin' any game, 
'Cause robbers would be noisy an' 

Indians awful tame 
Unless they had their shoes off when 

they crep' up in th' night, 
An' folks can't know they're comin' till 

they get right close in sight! 
An' I'm surely goin' barefoot every 

day when I get old 
An' haven't got a nurse to say I'll 

catch my dethocold ! 

8 



til^pmt^ of ttittle 25op^ 



An' if yer goin* barefoot yer want t' 

go outdoors — 
Y* can't stretch out an* dig yer heels 

in stupid hardwood floors 
Like you kin dig 'em in th' dirt. An' 

where th' long grass grows 
The blades feel kinder tickly an' 

cool between yer toes. 
So when I'm pullin' off" my shoes I'm 

mighty 'fraid I'll cough, 
'Cause then I know Ma'd stop me 

'fore I got my stockin's off! 

If y' often go 'round barefoot there's 
lots o' things to know, 

Of how t' curl yer feet on stones so 
they won't hurt y' so, 

An' when th' grass is stickly and 
pricks y' at a touch, 

Jes' plunk your feet down solid an' 
it don't hurt half so much. 

I lose my hat mos' every day. I 
wish I did my shoes — 

Er else I wisht I was so poor I had- 
n't none t' lose ! 

9 



!!lJ)pme^ of %ittlt 25opi6f 



SUPERSTISHUS 

Onct I went a-fishin* with a man 
what had a reel 

An* fancy hooks an* catgut an' a fish- 
pole made o' steel ; 

He never got a single bite from early 
until late, 

Just *cuz he didn't take no stock in 
spittin' on th' bait. 

Yes, he can laff an' jeer, bat where' s 
his fish, rd tike ter knoHV ? 

Oh, I guess lots o' things is true 'at 
some folks say ain't so ! 

D'jever drop a horse-hair into th' 

wat'rin' -trough 
An' leave it there fer weeks an' 

weeks 'thout drainin' of it off? 
An' ef you use a human hair they 

say it only takes 
Jes' half as long — but anyhow, it 

tarns 'em into snakes ! 
An' ef a feller don't believe a half 

the things he hears 
A darnin' needle comes along an' 

sews up both his ears ! 

10 



tify^mc^ of Hittle 25op^ 



Our cook, she's superstishus — she's 

scared as anythin' 
If someone spills a little salt er don't 

pick up a pin. 
An' when I wuz a kid I'd walk down 

to th' gate an' back, 
An' think that I wuz poisoned if my 

foot stepped on a crack ! 
I know them things is silly — I cross 

my heart I do — 
But I guess lots o' things is so 'at 

some folks never knew ! 



11 



ti^pmtfi of Hittle 25op^ 



BEIN' SICK 

When I am realty sick abed 

It isn't ever any fun. 
I feel all achy in my head 

An' hate to take my medisun. 
Th' sheets get stickyish and hot, 

But I am not allowed to kick 
'Em off, er read, er talk a lot 
When I am sick. 

I hate fer all th' folks about 

To come an' pat me on th' face 
An' say, " Poor child, you'll soon be 
out," 
An' tiptoe all around th' place. 
They go when I pertend to be 

Asleep — I do it fer a trick : 
I don't like folks to pity me 
When I am sick. 



My mother's diff'runt — I don't care 
If she sits by me once er twice 

An' says, "Poor boy," an' smooths 
my hair ; 
She ain't just tryin' to be nice. 

12 



iSljpme^ of Itittle 25op^ 



They bring warm squushy things to 
me 
Fer meals, an' make me eat *em 
quick. 
I'm mis'ruble as I can be 
When I am sick. 



13 



Jil)pme^ of %ittlt 250piBf 



GETTIN' WELL 

When yer really sick abed 

All th' fun is getting well. 
Say! It's jolly bein' fed— 

I kin hardly ever tell 
What tastes best. 'Most any food 

Goes so fast I wanter lick 
Th' plate. Stuff always tastes so good 

When I've been sick. 

I like it best when I can sit 

All bundled in th' easy chair, 
With all th' windows raised a bit 

To give th' place a little air. 
An' if a breeze comes now an' then, 

I tell y' what, it's pretty slick 
Just t' smelt outdoors again 

When I've been sick ! 

They put th' kittens on th' rug, 
An' mother brings her sewin' in, 

An' everythin's so nice an' snug 
I sit an' look around an* grin. 



14 



iSf^pme^ of atttle 25op^ 



An' then I get to countin' sheep, 
Or wond'rin' why th' clock should 
tick 

In diff 'runt ways. I like t' sleep 
When I've been sick. 



15 



Ili|)pmc^ of Hittle S&opief 



WISDOM 

Often when I wanter talk, grown-ups 

say I ourghtn't, 
For they think what I would say 

cannot be important. 
I am told that when I'm grown, 

then I may be bolder, 
Wisdom will be in my head when 

Tve gotten older. 
Tell me, will it, when it comes, set 

my head a-humming ? 
But I mostly want to know — will I 

feel it coming ? 



16 



ttt^pnu^ of little ^op^ 



COOKIN' THINGS 

When my mother's cookin' things, 

You bet I never wait 
To put away my ball er gun, 
I drop 'em where they are an* run 

Fer fear I'll be too late. 
The most excitin' kind of game, 

Er toy, er story-book, 
I let 'em go, an' never mind. 
The very minute that I find 

My mother's goin' to cook ! 

When my mother's cookin* things. 

Then you just oughter smell 
The spices an' the sweets an' such. 
My mouth gets waterin' so much 

I almost have to yell ! 
She opens up the oven door 

Sometimes, to take a look. 
An* then I jab 'em while they're hot, 
To see if they are done er not. 

When mother lets me cook. 

When my mother's cookin* things, 
P*r*aps it's pies to bake, 

17 



mftpme^ of ftittle 2&opiBf 



Er doughnuts bobbin' up an' down 
In boilin' grease till they are brown, 

Er p'r'aps it's johnny-cake. 
Whatever kind of thing it is, 

I always like to hook 
The biggest piece of dough I can 
An' bake it in a patty-pan, 

When me an' mother cook. 

When my mother's cookin* things. 

It pays you if you wait 
An' eat 'em hot, right off the tin. 
It's twice as good as any thin' 

Could be, et off a plate ! 
An' I guess you'd find out fer sure 

That I was not mistook 
In any single thin' I've said, 
If you could taste the gingerbread 

I've helped my mother cook. 



18 



iSl^pme^ of %xttlt 25opi0? 



RAIN-CHARM 

Rdin, rain, go away; come again another 

day. 
Little Billie wants to play! 

What's the reason, do you s'pose, 

that it has to rain ? 
Tve been flattenin* my nose up 

against th' pane 
For about an hour or so, beggin' for 

th* rain to go. 

In th* attic it's no fun 'thout th' other 

boys. 
I get countin*,one by one, every single 

noise, 
An' the raindrops, when they strike, 

sound so kinder solemn-like. 

I jus' wait in this one place wishin' 
it would pass, 

Watchin' all th' raindrops race down 
across th' glass ; 

See each big one, when it runs, gob- 
ble all th' little ones. 

19 



M^pmt0 of Eittle 25op^ 



Rain, rain, go away— -wish you*d come 

at night. 
Guess you knew Td plans t'day, an' 

you came fer spite. 
Seems zif jus' th' days it pours I 

most want t' be outdoors ! 



20 



tilipmtg of 3tittle S&opi^ 



BED-TIME 
Last year my bed-time was at eight, 

And every single night 
I used to wish the clock would wait, 

Or else stay out of sight. 
It always seemed to me 
The next half-hour'd be 
The nicest time of all the day 
if mother would agree. 
But she always shook her head 
And she sort of jumped, and said, 

Why, it's late — after eight — 
And it's time you were in bed ! 

That clock would always do its best 

To sit all quiet there. 
Until I was my comfyest 

In some big easy chair. 
Then its striking would begin. 
And I'd tell my Motherkin 
How I'd just begun a chapter, and 

it was so infrestin — 
And the end was just ahead — 
But she usuruUy said, 

No; it's late — after eight — 
And it's time to go to bed! 

21 



M^pmt^ of Stittle 25op^ 



And now my bed-time is ha-past, — 
But yet that old clock does 

The same mean tricks — it's just as 
fast, 
Or faster, than it was. 

Last night it seemed to me 

The next half-hour 'd be 

The nicest time of all the day 
if mother would agree. 

But she smiled and shook her head. 

And she kissed me while she said, 
Why, it's late — ha-past eight — 

And it's time you went to bed ! 



22 



til^pmtg of little ^np0 



APPLE-PIE 

When our cook she makes a pie 

You oughter see her fingers fly ! 
She sits an' holds a yeller bowl 
An' stirs so fast she keeps a hole 

Down through the middle of the stuff"; 

There' s milk an' egg, an' flour enough, 
And maybe other things, but I 
Ferget just all that makes a pie ! 

When our cook she makes a pie 
She rolls the dough, that, by an' by, 
Is two round blankets; then you'll 

see 
Her slice some apples evenly. 
Plump into bed she makes 'em hop. 
An' cuts some peep-holes through 
the top 
So they won't smother when they 

lie 
All warm an' sugared in the pie. 

« 

When our cook she makes a pie 
She balances the plate up high, 

23 



i!tt)pnic^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



And with a pleasant, snippy sound 
She trims it nicely all around. 
And when she's thumbed the edges 

tight, 
The apples can't get up at night. 
And when she's baked it, then, 

oh my! 
You never et such apple-pie! 



24 



Hi^l^mt^ of %ittU 25op^ 



BABIES 

A baby is so queer, you know, 
I think, each new one that I see, 

It isn't possible he'll grow 
To be as fine a boy as me. 



25 



lEtl^pme^ of %xttlt 25dp^ 



IN THE STUDY 

Nicest place in all the house 
Is my poppa's study chair; 

Just as quiet as a mouse 
I go creeping there, 

An* he gives a little smile, 

Writing, writing, all the while. 

There's at least a million books 
Up and down and round the wall, 

I guess, from the way it looks, 
I can't read them all ! 

If I did I'm sure I'd be 

Just as wise and big as he. 



26 



Hf^^mt^ of atittle 2&op^ 



DUTY CALL 

On Sundays I jus' love to dine 
With Aunty Jane an* Emeline, 
An' stay t' hear a temp'rence trac*. 
I love it, 'cause when I get back 
My muwer sez, "Poor little sweet!" 
An' gives me heaps o' things to eat. 



27 



mijpme^ of Jtittle 25op^ 



KETCHIN' RIDES 

I'm awful fond of ketchin* rides. 

I like those trucks where I kin 
stand 
Without a-holdin' to the sides 

(Er maybe holdin' with one hand!), 
Though teacher says it's not refined 
To go a-ketchin' on behind. 

I almost never walk to school, 
So many wagons pass our place ; 

My fav'rite one he makes a rule 
Of always leadin' me a chase, 

An' then pertendin' he's too blind 

To see me ketchin' on behind. 

I've found there's just two kinds of 
men 
What drives th' wagons in our 
town, 
'Cause when I meet 'em, now an' 
then, 
There's some that grab their whips 
er frown. 
But some they nod an' never mind 
When I am ketchin' on behind. 

28 



flljpme^ of 3ttttle 25opi0? 



Th' one that drives th' movin* van 
Told me an' Brud he'd knock our 

skulls 
Together — he's th' kind of man 
That's mean to cats an' animuls* 
But any man is good an' kind 
Who likes yer ketchin' on behind. 

I guess when I am rich an' great 
An' ov^n a truck an' grocery cart, 

ril always drive 'em slow, er wait 
So little chaps kin get a start. 

An' have 'em built so boys kin find 

A place fer ketchin' on behind. 



29 



ill)pmc^ of %itt\t 25op^ 



T I WAS ER HORSE! 

'F I was er horse I'd hate t' wear 

A collar what didn't fit, 

An' blinder-things, an' I wouldn't care 

To chew on a iron bit. 

It ain't a way 'at I'd wanter live. 

To just go everywhere I was driv. 

*F I was er horse, I guess you'd see 
I'd run away pretty quick ! 
I'd tear my harness an' wriggle free 
An' go where th' grass was thick, 
rdkick myheels,an' I'd neigh ferjoy. 
But I ain't er horse, I'm er little boy ! 



30 



Hi^pmt^ of Stittle 25op^ 



AN IMAGINING 

Two sisters that I never saw 

Are lying underneath the ground. 

Sometimes my mothertakes me there 
And says that I may play around. 

But while she sits so quietly, 

I often have imaginings, 
And see a-flying near her head 

Two little baby girls with wings. 



SI 



tit^pmc^ of %ittlt 2&opi0? 



IN THE MORNING 

Reggalerly every day, 
When my papa's gotten up, 

I can see him far away 
Mixin' sumpin' in a cup ; 

I can hear him slappy-slap 

With a knife against a strap. 

He is such a funny sight 
In the mirror on the shelf. 

With his face all blobby white, 
Makin' faces at himself; 

But I mustn't laugh, or he 

Comes an' rubs it all on me ! 

Papa says when I'm growed up, 
With some troubles an' a wife, 

I can have a mixer-cup 
An' a shiny crooked knife ; 

But he says I must begin 

Puttin' prickers in my chin. 



32 



tif^^mtg of %ittlt 25op^ 



SYMPATHETIC 

Whenever I start out to walk, our dog 
he seems to know, 
And runs along ahead of me to 
show he's coming too ; 
And when there is a reason why he 
really mustn't go 
The hollering **Go Home" to him 
is awful hard to do. 

He wags his tail and jumps around, 
and seems as if he said, 
''I guess you didn't mean it, you 
were only jokin' then!" 
But when he sees I'm serious he 
kinder droops his head. 
Or looks up at me sorrowful, an' 
looks aw^ay again. 

And then at last he minds me if I 
keep an angry tone. 
It's awful hard to do it, but I try 
with all my might; 



33 



!lll)pmei0? of Jlittle 25op0 



And sometimes when I look around 
I see him all alone 
A-watchin' me and watchin' me 
until I'm out of sight. 

You see I know just how it is, 'cause 
some days when I find 
My brother's got to hurry off with 
bigger boys to play, 
And when he says I mustn't go and 
tag along behind. 
He leaves me sittin' somewheres 
and a-feelin' just that way! 



34 



mi^pme^ of %ittlt 2Bop^ 



SPECIAL WORDS 

My mother she has special words 
She's alwuz usin', but I find 

The ones that I've most often heard 
Is By-um-by and Never-mind. 

Whenever I can't have my way 
An' beg her '* when? "and tease 
her "why?" 

The things she's Hkeliest to say 
Is Never-mind and By-um-by. 

An' when our picnic stopped becuz 
It rained, er sumpin' of the kind, 

The only things she told us was 
Jus' By-um-by an' Never-mind. 

I as't when By-um-by would be, 
She told me "Never-mind!" so I 

Said " What is Never-mind ?" an' she 
Said I'd discover, By-um-by. 

My mother she has special words 
For question-answerin' an' such, 

But I guess some that I have heard 
Don't really mean so awful much. 

35 



l!tf)pme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



AT THE ZOO 
I. 

It must be hard for you, porcupine, 
To dress when the day begins! 

I'm glad there aren't any clothes of 
mine 
A-needin' so many pins. 

But when I've been saucy and hor- 
rid too, 

Or up to some naughty prank, 
If I could only wear clothes like you 

I'd be awfully hard to spank! 

II. 

A snake's the funniest thing I know, 
So dreadfully incomplete ; 

Without any arms where hands can 
grow, 
And not any legs for feet. 

But I wish I could crawl on the 
ground that way. 

Or shin up the apple trees, 
And not have nursie get mad and say 

There's holes in my stockin' knees! 

36 



iit^^mt^ of Eittle 2Sop^ 



III. 

I'm glad I wasn't a monkey too! 

It's jolly to watch you climb, 
But you're fighting and biting the 
whole day through, 

And chattering all the time. 

But maybe a tail like that would be 

An awfully useful thing 
Up in our neighbor's cherry tree 

On holidays in the spring ! 

IV. 

You thin giraffe, if I was you, 
I'd have a hard time, I spec'; 

For nursie would make a great to-do 
A-washing my face an' neck. 

But when the jam and the cookie-jar 
Are hid on the highest shelf, 

I wisht I was as tall as you creatures 
are. 
Instead of my tiny self. 



37 



Illl)pmc^ of %ittlt 250piBf 



A RECOLLECTION 

When we was visitin' a farm 

I begged an' begged an' maybe 
squealed, 

(I didn't see how it could harm) 
To just run barefoot in a field. 

Until at last the lady said 

They'd better let me go ahead. 

It was so stubbuUy that each 

Poor foot got hurtin' right away; 

Still I was bound that I would reach 
A haystack an' pertend to play. 

But I just cried against the stack 

For somebody to fetch me back. 

My brother only stood an' laughed! 

I might uv caught my death-o-cold 
Away out there in all that draught, 

'Cause I am only eight years old. 
But sometimes seems zif older folks 
'L laugh at things that isn't jokes. 



38 



ti^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



MAKIN' THINGS 

Whenever Christmas time comes 

round it really doesn't take 
Much money, 'cause the folks prefer 

the presents that I make. 
And so, for days and days before, I 

saw and pound and glue, 
A-making things and planning who*s 

the best to give 'em to. 
But sometimes I get thinking that Td 

really like it more 
If folks would only use the things for 

what I make 'em for! 



39 



i5I)pme^ of %ittlt 2&op^ 



GETTIN' ^/V ASHED 

At breakfast, when I'm kinder late 

an' hurry to my place, 
An' wanter eat, some person says, 

" Oh, what a dirty face ! " 
Or, *' Leave the table right away, 

those hands are a disgrace ! " 
When I come back all nice an' clean 

my mother says she fears 
I didn't take a lot of pains to wash 

behin' my ears. 

An' lots o' times when I've been out 

an' haven't touched a thin' 
That could have dirtied me a bit, 

why someone's called me in — 
'Cause what they went an' said was 

dirt was shadders on my skin. 
But s'pose that cedar tree I climbed 

did leave some teeny smears, 
I don't see how a bit could get 'way 

up behin' my ears ! 

Oh, when I'm big, without a nurse 
or grown-up folks that tease, 

40 



itfipme^ of %xttlt 25op^ 



Some weeks I'll wear my oldest 

clo'es as dirty as I please, 
An' muss my hair an' have big holes 

in both my stockin' knees. 
Of course I'll wash each momin\ 

'cept when playtime interferes, 
But yoa just bet I'll let alone that 

place behin' my ears ! 



41 



Mi^pmt^ of %xtt\t 25op^ 



ILLOGICAL 

They're as proud as they can be 
Every time the baby squeaks; 

When she gets as big as me 

Bet they'll scold her if she speaks ! 

'Cause some visitor, perhaps, 
When I try to say a word, 

Laughs an' says that little chaps 
Should be seen instead of heard. 

If that's truly what they mean, 
Seems to me it wasn't wise, 

If they meant me to be seen. 
Not to make me bigger size. 

An' if I can't talk so much, 

Why did God, who had his choice 
Of materials an' such, 

Make me have so big a voice? 



42 



^i^prntg of %itt\t 25op^ 



PIRATE'S CAVE 

Under the table, when dinner's 
through, 

There is my fav'rite cave. 
My sister she is a pirate crew, 

An' I am a captain brave. 
With treasure out of the cookie jar, 

And plunder from other lands, 
To the pirate lair that's hidden there 

We creep on our knees and hands. 

Before the people get up to go, 

Then is the time to hide. 
I whisper, *'Ho, my lads, lie low. 

There are foes on every side!" 
And then I thump on the table top. 

And Papa says, *' Hey ! What's 
that?" 
And another thump makes Mother 
jump 

And guess that it's just the cat. 

But Papa says, when I thump again, 
**P'r'aps it's a pirate bold!'' 

43 



!ltl)pme^ of Hittle 26op^ 



And his legs an' feet come huntin* 
then, 

A-tryin* to catch a-hold; 
He keeps me hurryin' back an' forth 

Till his hands comes huntin* too, 
Then I sink the ship when I feel his 

grip, 
And Mother she gets the crew! 



44 



Hi^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



DAYTIME NAPS 

My mother thinks that little chaps 
Who play a lot need daytime naps ; 
Though I've explained, with all my 

might, 
That I can't sleep except at night. 

But sometimes, when I've played a 

lot, 
I'd jus' as liv go in as not ; 
It gives her quite a nice surprise 
When I lie down and shut my eyes. 

I couldn't get to sleep, I know ; 
But for a little while or so 
I get to seeing on the wall 
Queer pictures that aren't there at 
all. 

One time a camel stuck his head 
Right close up to me on the bed, 
And animals I'd seen that day 
Up at the Zoo, they came to play. 

And once I thought of curious things 
That I could do if I had wings. 

45 



at^pmt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



But all the nicest parts of it 
I can't remember now a bit ! 

I think so hard of things I'd do, 
I feel all stretchy when I'm through, 
And then I look and find it's been 
More 'n a nour since I came in. 

It's nice to lie and think, perhaps, 
But just the same I can't take naps! 
(And mother says she sees it's true, 
But thanks me just fer tryin' to.) 



46 



at^^xnt^ of Itittle 25dp^ 



PRAYER FOR A LITTLE BOY. 

Nozu I lay me dcnvn to sleep, 

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep. 

If I should die before I^ivake, 

I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to take* 

And this Task for Jesus' sake. 

But while I live I want to be from 

quick and angry passions free, 
With gentle thoughts, and happy face, 

and pleasant words in everyplace. 
I pray, whatever wrong I do, I'll 

never say what is not true; 
Be willing at my task each day, and 

always honest in my play. 

Make me unselfish with my joys, 

and generous to other boys; 
And kind and helpful to the old, and 

prompt to do what I am told. 
Bless every one I love, and teach me 

how to help and comfort each. 
Give me the strength right-living 

brings, and make me good in little 

things. — Amen. 

47 



tit^^ntt^ of %itt\t 25op^ 



TOP-TIME 

I wisht I knew what makes the top- 
time come 
Before it's gotten over bein* cold; 
Sometimes my fingers get so kinder 
numb 
The string can't help from comin' 
all unrolled. 
I like a top-string better when it 's 
old, 
An' then I tell yer, I can make 'er 
hum! 
I've learnt a special secret way t' 
hold, 
By pressin', when I throw 'er, 
with my thumb. 
You know that stubby yeller one I 
had?— 
It split ten other tops, er maybe 
more — 
I broke it, an' I tell yer, I felt bad ! 
But now she's mended better 'an 
before. 

48 



lltftpme^ of %ntlt 25op^ 



I don't see why our cook should get 
so mad 
Each time I spin 'er on the kitchen 
floor. 



49 



i!i{)pme^ of 3little S^op^ 



KITE TIME 

Last night me an* my brother made 
a kite — 
The biggest one we've ever tried 
to do. 
Stood up on end 'twas more 'n twice 
my height 
(The kind that has three sticks 

instead of two). 
I made the tail, an' 'fore I'd gotten 
through 
I'd used up every rag there was in 
sight. 
To fly her 'd take a whoppin' 
wind, we knew. 
And then to-day it came exactly 

right. 
A boughten kite may have a neater 
look, 
But home-made ones are mighty 

hard to beat. 
This big one nearly dived us off 
our feet — 

50 



Jltl)pme^ of Hittle 2&op^ 



'Twas in the length of tail we were 

mistook ; 
An' you can see her, any time you 

look, 
A-hangin' in that elm tree down 

the street. 



51 



ISJ)pme^ of Jtittle 25op^ 



BALL- TIME 

This week it's got so warm that I 

have been 

Without my overcoat for every 

day. 

I wisht I hadn't promised to stay in 

An' study for an hour, instead of 

play. 
'Cause with the window up a little 
way 
I smell the grass and see the buds 
begin. 
Our clock's a lot behind time, I 
should say, 
An' study in' too hard' 11 make me 

thin! 
I hear the boys outside begin to 
call— 
They want me for a game of two- 
old-cat. 
I guess they know I've got a brand 
new ball; — 
It isn't me they want so much as 
that. 
I bet you they can't borrow it at all 
Unless I get first innin's at the bat ! 

52 



iSJlpme^ of %xttlt 25tip^ 



SWIMMIN'-TIME 

It was so hot in school I sat an' 
sweat, 
An* thought all day how fine a 
swim would feel. 
When time was up we didn't wait, 
you bet, 
But just raced out here an' began 

to peet! 
It's fun to hear the little fellers 
squeal 
Each time you shove 'em in an' 
get 'em wet. 
Once I was skeered when some big 
boy would steal 
Close up behind — it kinder skeers 

me yet ! 
But anyhow I can stay under more 
Than any boy my size — I do it 
lots. 
It's funny — an' I've noticed it 
before — 
Down deep the water 's warm an' 
cold in spots. 

63 



M^^rnt^ of Itittle 25op^ 



Hi ! Hi, there ! See those fellers up 
on shore — 
They're tyin* all our stockin's 
into knots! 



«4 



Ht^^mt^ of Jtittle 2&op^ 



NUTTIN' TIME 

I know where butternut an* shag- 
bark trees 
Grow thick, — an' chestnuts an' 
sweet-acorns too. 
Each fall we go there an' pick all 
we please — 
We take our lunch an' stay the 

whole day through. 
Last week we went to where the 
walnuts grew, 
With two big sacks an' filled 'em at 
our ease. 
I shinned one tree — that's what I 
love to do ! — 
And then we hunted, on our hands 

an' knees. 
But after all, the part I like the best 
Is when the sacks have gotten 
pretty fat, 
An' some one says it's time we 
ought to rest 
An' start the jam an' cookies an' 
all that. 

55 



I51)pme^ of %tttlt 25opi6f 



This time it kind of spoiled my 
interest 
To find a chestnut burr just 
where I sat. 



56 



Mi^pmtg of %xttlt 25op^ 



SNOWBALL TIME 

When the snow first comes, so fine 
an' thin, 
It's good for snow ice-cream; an' 
by-an'-by 
Some evenin' we will fill a heapin* 
tin. 
And drip hot syrup in — oh me, 

oh my! 
Until this week the snow has 
been too dry, 
But now it packs, and snow fights 
will begin. 

We've built a block-house with 
a roof so high 
We only stoop a little when we're 

in ! 
I've got some boots that come above 
my knees — 
Last winter, too, they were my 
special pride; 
I plunge through any snow-drifts 
that I please. 
Or climb on top of 'em an' sit an' 
slide. 

57 



iSiftpme^ of Hittle 25opief 



But Jimminyl my toes begins to 
freeze 
If ever any snow gets down in- 
side. 



58 



i!{)pmc^ of Jtittle 25opi^ 



MY SORE THUMB 

I jabbed a jack-knife in my thumb 



Th' blood just spurted when it come! 
The cook got faint, an' nurse she 

yelled 
An' showed me how it should be 
held, 
An' Gran' ma went to get a rag. 
An' couldn't find one in th' bag ; 
An' all the rest was just struck 

dumb 
To see my thumb ! 

Since I went an' jabbed my thumb 
I go around a-lookin' glum, 

And Aunt, she pats me on the head 

An' gives me extra ginger-bread ; 
But brother 's madf an' says he '11 go 
An' take an' axe, an' chop his toe : 

An' then he guesses I'll keep mum 

About my thumb! 

At school they as't to see my thumb, 
But I just showed it to my chum, 

59 



iSftpme^ of %itt\t 25op^ 



An* any else that wants to see 

Must divvy up their cake with me ! 
It 's gettin' well so fast, I think 
I'll fix it up with crimson ink, 

An' that '11 keep up infrest some 

In my poor thumb! 



60 



l!lJ)pmc^ of 3tittle 25op^ 



REJECTED 

There's a nawful pretty teacher at 

our school, an' once I told her 
That I thought we might be married 

if she'd wait till I was older; 
There was no one 'cept my mother 

that I liked so well, I said. 
She didn't even answer, but she 

laughed at me instead. 

She's forgotten all about it, an' it 

seems to me a pity 
That folks what are so cruel should 

be made so awful pretty. 
But I guess I'll make her sorry that 

she treated me so hard, 
If I do what I've been plannin', an' 

I die in her front yard. 



61 



iSljpme^ of %itt\t 55op^ 



THE WIND 

The wind it rushes in and out 

An' makes a great to-do, 
An' Httle leaves leap all about 

To tell you where it blew. 

Whenever it goes racing by 
It pulls my clothes and hair; 

Some places it will sing or sigh, 
But no one sees it there! 

The trees are p'raps the only thing 

That see it as it blows, 
For they all lean, an' point, an' sing 

In whispers, "There it goes!'* 



62 



Ififjpme^ of %ittit 25op^ 



THINGS THAT GET LOST 

They tell me, when I lose a thing, 

No one's at fault but me; 
It's just because I'm carelesser 

'N what I ought to be. 
But there are happenin's that show 

It isn't true a bit — 
'Cause when a thing gets lost, I know 

It's part the fault of it. 

'Cause often when I'm in the house 

For just a little while, 
I put my cap an' ball an' such 

All in a little pile. 
Then when I'm in a rush to go, 

And hurry right to where 
I left 'em, it's most always so 

That one of 'em's not there! 

And while we hunt with all our 
might. 

The thing we're looking for 
Is hid, I'm sure, just out of sight 

An* laughin' more an' more. 

63 



jUljpmc^ of 3little 25op^ 



'Cause it can hear us goin' wrong 
An* say in*, ** Where d' you s'pose 

That old thing is)'" An* all along 
It's happy, 'cause IT knows! 



64 



tHipmt^ of %m\t 25op^ 



EXCUSES 

Sometimes wheni'm special naughty 
In some bran' -new way. 
An' my sister an' the nurse 
Only get me actin' worse, 
Daddy's told, an' when I'm caught, 
he 
Asks what I've to say. 

Daddy has some special uses 
For a slipper he 

Keeps upon his study shelf, 
So I start to 'scuse myself. 
An' I think up lots of 'senses 
Quickly as can be ! 

Daddy coughs, an' then confesses 
That sometimes he does 

P'raps misjudge me by mistake. 
Then he gives my hand a shake. 
(But I sometimes think he guesses 
Just how bad I was!) 



65 



iSl^pme^ of %ittlc 25op^ 



VACATION IN THE COUNTRY 

If I lived in the country efhery day 
Instead of only when vacations 
come, 
Would I get sunburned so that it 
would stay, 
And say words like "I recken" 
and '^to hum"? 

Could I wear one suspender if I 
chose, 
And learn an awful lot of useful 
things, 
Like how to pick up pebbles with 
my toes. 
Or tell a bird from just the way it 
sings? 

And would I know the places where 

to dive, 
And all the quickest cuts across 

the lots? 
And could I keep some snakes and 

frogs alive, 

66 



^l^pmt^ of Stittle 23op^ 



And would my feet get hard, with 
callus spots? 

Back home there in the city, there's 
no way 
To learn such useful things; so 
I've a mind, 
Before the folks all start to go away, 
To find some place to hide, and 
stay behind. 



67 



iRljpme^ of kittle 25op0 



SEWIN* BUTTONS ON 

Every time my mother sews 
Some kind of button on my clo'es, 
It always gives me a surprise 
To see how fast the needle flies. 
In buttons all the difference is, 

They have four little holes or two; 
But just whichever hole she says, 

She makes her needle-point come 
through! 
She never seems to aim, 
But it's always just the same — 
It's as int'restin' to watch her as 
'most any sort of game. 

But when I start to sewin' one. 
Why, just as soon as I've begun. 
The thread gets tangled as can be, 
Or keeps a-gettin' caught on me. 
An' after all the time it takes 

To get the needle goin' some. 
It hits the button hard, an' breaks, 

Or comes one side an' pricks my 
thumb. 

G8 



ttt^^mt^ of %xttlt 25dp^ 



But anybody knows 
That troubles such as those 
My mother never seems to have, no 
matter what she sews ! 

An* so I think, when I have grown. 
And got a house that's all my own, 

An' wife an' family an' such, 

If I lose off my buttons much 
I'll have my mother always there 

To sew 'em on for me again; 
Unless she thought she wouldn't care 

To be so very busy then, 
Or somethin' else occurred 
That she thought that she preferred— 
But she says it is the nicest plan 
she ever, ever heard! 



69 



UllpmcjS of %ittle 25op!S 



OUR GANG 

(With affectionate apologies) 

VJeWe got a gang, and I belong, 
If s active all the year around; 

We've got a drum-corps, twenty 
strong, 
A secret club and camping ground. 

And then of course we have a yell 
That we can whistle low or hum. 

And when I hear it, I can tell 
A fellow's calling me to come. 

Wherever it might be, 

I'd answer instantly, 

For I would know 'twas Dop or Al 
Or Jinks or Don or Rob or Hal 

Or all of 'em but me. 

To-day I heard my mother say 
How very greatly she enjoys 

A-seeing with me in my play 
So nice a lot of little boys. 

But when I told 'em so, they guessed 
That maybe she would not admire 

Us all so much, if I confessed 

70 



i!!l)pme^ of %itt\t 2Bop^ 



That we had set some woods afire! 

It's really true, and we 

Were sure as we could be 

That men were after Dop and Lest 
And Jinks and Buster and the rest 

And Don and Rob and me. 

But later, in our rondevoo — 



A very special secret one — 
We talked about a deed or two 

Of mischief we had lately done 
And then and there we all agreed 

We none of us were scared a bit! 
We planned another direful deed, 

W^e were so bold and desperit. 
We named us the M.D. 
And swore to secrecy; 

The members we agreed upon 

Was Al an' Dop an' Jinks an' Don 
An' sev'ral more, an' me. 

If you've no gang you call your own, 
You're someone to be sorry for. 

You can't do direful deeds alone, 
And keep the oaths that you have 
swore. 

71 



iSl)pme^ of %xttlt 25opj0f 

I know some secrets dark and dread 
About us fellows, every one — 

But I won't tell, alive or dead, 
The awful deeds I know they done. 

And though I get to be 

A grown-up man, you'll see 
I'll never tell on Dop or Al 
Or Jinks or Don or Rob or Hal 

Or all the rest, or me! 



72 



i5()pme-5 of flittle 25opief 



NURSES 

There isn't anythin' that's worse 
Than for a boy to have a nurse. 
For even when she helps y' play, 
She's alwuz gettin' in th' way; 
There's so few things she under- 
stands, 
She's just a bother on your hands. 

I learned this, cuz a boy I know 
Has one that never lets him go. 
First time we met, I thought that such 
A feller wasn't good for much. 
He licked me, though, an' sat on top 
Until his nurse she made him stop. 

And afterwards, why him an' me 
We're jus' as friendly as can be, 
An' I am sure that nurse-girl is 
His parents' fault instead of his. 
They ought to know she just 

annoys, — 
They're awful ignerunt of boys! 



73 



ti'^^mt^ of Jtittle 25opief 



BUILDIN' FIRES 

To build a fire is better fun 
Than almost anythin* I know. 

There's certain ways it should be 
done, 
Or else it's likely not to go. 

My father says that he admires 

A boy that's good at buildin' fires. 

An' in the diff'runt ones I've tried, 
There's lots of little thin's I've 
learnt, 
Like lightin' from the windward side, 
An' how to bank 'er when she's 
burnt. 
An' how to make the smudges thick, 
An' when to poke 'er with a stick. 

On Saturdays we love to go 

And do like tramps or Indians do. 

An' cook an ear of corn or so. 

With frogs' legs, or some fishes too. 

(The nicest food that's ever cooked 

Is veg'tubles that you have hooked.) 

74 



til^pmt$ of Jtittle 25op^ 



A fire at home is not the same; 

You have to get a chair an' sit 
And watch a kind of gentle flame 

With no excitement over it. 
An' grown-up folks, instead of you, 
Do all the pokin' there's to do. 



75 



mtipmc^ of ftittle 25opj0? 



WAS YOU EVER SPANKED? 

Was you ever spanked? I ain't sorry 
a bit 

I scratched at my brother an' hol- 
lered an' spit. 

Then they pulled me away, an' I 
kicked an' I yanked. 

Was you ever spanked? 

Was 3)oa ever spanked? The times 

I've been good, 
Why, nobody's cared, an' I ain't 

understood. 
If I die, they have only themselves 

to be thanked ! 
Was you ever spanked? 



re 



M^^vnt^ of %ittit 250p^ 



DRESSIN' UP 

It's fun up in the attic, when mother 

lets us 'splore 
In all the trunks an' boxes there an' 

litter up the floor — 
She tells us we may try things on if 

we won't get 'em tore. 

An' sometimes we play grown-up 
folks in big ol'fashioned clo'es; 

Or sometimes dress up fancy ways 
an' play we're givin' shows, 

An' charge ten pins admission, an' 
all the fam'ly goes. 

But when we find oV things of mine 

we rig 'em up on sis, 
An' p'rade around, an' daddy says, 

*' Whose little chap is this?" 
An' mother says, **Dear little boy!" 

an' asks her for a kiss. 

But when me an' my sister put her 
skirts an' stuff on me, 

77 



!ltl)pme^ of Itxttle 25op^ 



I notice no one seems to think 'at 

it's a girl they see; 
But the women say "My Gracious!*' 

an' the men folks say * ' Oh Gee ! ' * 



78 



I!ll)pmei0? of Stittle 25dp^ 



A FABLE 

Said a Little Boy to a Honey Bee, 
**You*d not be happy if you was me! 
'Cause / don't get enough time 

to play — 
I can't do half what I want, all 
day. 
You stay where it's sunny, all chock 
full of honey — 
It must be funny to live that way. 
You have a /o^ better time than me!" 
Said the Little Boy to the Honey 
Bee. 

Said the Honey Bee to the Little 

Boy, 
"Yes, life is jolly and full of joy ! 
I hum and bumble and buzz away, 
But it's mostly work and it's 
seldom play, 
And, rainy or sunny, I toiled for the 
honey 
Which you (how funny !) ate up 
to-day. 

79 



Kll^pme^ of %xttlt 25op^ 



I don't know why, but I buzz with 

joy!" 
Said the Honey Bee to the Little 

Boy. 



80 



iSI)pme^ of Itittle 2Bop^ 



A NEWSBOY'S PLAINT 

Some fren's o' mine is tryin' hard 
ter put me on de queer — 
De doctor wat dey sent's a nervey 
bloke; 
Says 'e, " Yer need de country — I 
ferbid yer stay in' 'ere ! *' 
I tell yer straight, I thought it was 
a joke. 
Dere ain't no finer paper-route from 
Bronx ter Chat' am Square — 
'Tain't like I was a cully shinin' 
shoes ! 
Who's he wid his *forbiddin' ? Now 
gwan an' quit yer kiddin' — 
Aw, cheese it! 'Ere's a cove dat 

wants de news ! 
Pa— a— peh ! 

Woir an' de Joinal! Times an' de 

Sun! 
Press or de Heral' ! Hi— Wich one? 
Mo— o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, *ere 

y' uh, 
A— a— 11 a- -bout de moider— buy a 

papeh, Suh ? 

81 



iil)pme0 of %ittit 25op^ 



Dere*s trees an' grass a-growin' in 
mos' all de city parks, 
De same as in de country, so dey 
say; 
Y* hear about de crowin' of de 
roosters an' de larks — 
Fd jus' as live get woke some 
udder way ! 
Me fren' wot runs de book-store, he 
lets me monkey round, 
An' I see dem country t'ings in 
picter-books — 
An' I've frequent seen a chicken dat 
de butcher-boy was pickin', 
An' dere's often cows a-hangin* 
up on hooks. 

Pa--a--peh ! 
Woir an' de Joinal ! Times an' de 

Sun! 
Press or de Heral' ! Hi — Wich one? 
Mo--o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, 'ere 

y'uh, 
A--a--ll a--bout de moider — Buy a 
papeh, Suh ? 

82 



i!tl)pme0 of aittle 25opi0f 



I need de country air, *e says ? Aw 

rats, dat ain't a mark 

Ter wat I'd need up dere widout 

de boys ! 

Dey say dere ain't no 'lectric lights — 

at night de place is dark — 

'Dere ain't no cops — An' say! 

Dere ain't no noise! 

Says 'e, " I wouldn't give so much 

fer wat yer life is wort'!'* 

Fergit it! I ain't askin' 'im ter 

give. 
Who wants ter stay a-stewin' in a 

place where nottin's doin'? — 
I want ter do some livin' wile I 

live. 

Pa--a--peh ! 
Woir an' de Joinal! Times an' de 

Sun! 
Press or de Heral' — Hi — Wich one? 
Mo— o--nin' pa--a--peh! Loidy, 'ere 

/uh, 
A--a--ll a--bout de moider — Buy a 

papeh, Suh ? 



83 



Iftfjpme^ of %itt\t 2&opi0f 



UNFULFILMENT 

I see an upland pasture, clover- 
blown, 
Where grave-eyed cattle graze 
the meadow-side; 
And in the wavy blot of shade a 
lonely tree has thrown, 
A little boy lies dreaming, open- 
eyed. 
And something in the fair-gowned 
buckwheat fields, 
And in the hill lined out against 
the sky. 
And in the kindly spreading tree a 
subtle bondage wields ; 
I look — and lo ! the little boy is I. 

Afar, blue peaks that one time edged 
the world — 
White clouds — a boyhood's realm 
of Maybe-so ; 
And from the deeps of memory a 
tapestry's unfurled 
Of small boy visions, woven 
long ago. 

84 



iSJjpme^ of Hittle 25op^ 



And years and deeds went always 
hand in hand 
In those fair pictures. Yet to-day 
there seems 
A small voice crying sorrowf *ly from 
sky and cloverland 
That I am not the figure of the 
dreams. 



85 



Mi^^mt^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



THEN AND NOW 

I can remember, in the long ago, 
How, when the evening shadows 

slowly grew, 
I nestled closely, as I loved to do. 
And begged a story in the twilight 

glow. 
But when those mother accents, 
sweet and low, 
Began some bed-time tale all 

strange and new, 
I cried — Not that one ! Let me 
listen to 
The one you told last time — the one 
I know. 

Was I so different in the days of 
yore? 
Isit and dream anewthe joys of old. 
Crying to Fate to send them back 
once more, 
Distrusting what the future may 
unfold. 

86 



Hf^pmc^ of %ittit ^op$ 



Tho* sweet the hope be of what lies 
before, 
Sweet is the mem'ry of the tale 
that's told! 



87 



i5l)pmc^ of Itittle 25op^ 



SANTA CLAUS 

Jingle of bell and clattering hoof 

And shouts borne down the blast, 
And muffled sounds from the snowy 
roof 
While the winter wind sweeps 
past; 
And sleepy eyes grow big and round, 
And breaths are hushed at each 
mystic sound 
While childish hearts beat fast. 

The flick' ring flames, as they crack 
and glow, 
Peep up the chimney wide, 
And whisper then to the ghostly row 

Of stockings side by side. 
The eight-day clock, where it stands 

in state. 
Holds fast its breath in the silent 
wait 
For the king of Christmas-tide. 

The days slip by of those happy 
times ; 

88 



iSfipme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



The paths we trod of yore 
To the fairyland of the nurse's 
rhymes 
Are barred by a closing door. 
And we smile at the tales of a year 

ago 
As childhood's truths into fables 
grow; 
And lost is our goblin lore. 

But yet to-day from the mantel-shelf 
The stockings greet our eyes, 

And our faith in the jolly Christmas 
Elf 
On firm foundation lies. 

For we see in merry lurking there 

A father's love or a mother's care 
Hid under the quaint disguise. 



80 



!!t!jpme^ of %ittlt 25op0 



PLAYING IN THE LEAVES 

Autumn leaves, Autumn leaves, 
Garnered up in golden sheaves ! 
Sun that tinted them like gems. 
Frost that keenly nipped their stems, 
W^ind that whirled them here and 

there, 
Weary folk that raked with care — 
All were slaves to serve our pleasure; 

What though Time was bent and 
gray. 
Yet we bade him add his treasure, 

In the springtime of our play. 



90 



l!t|)pme^ of %itth SBop^Bf 



FIRST SWEETHEARTS 

Tiny maids with sunlit hair ; 

Sombre elves with eyes cast 
down; 
Princess dainty, debonnaire ; 

Auburn tresses, gold, and brown. 
Some were gay and some were 
grave ; 

Shyly swayed by blame or praise ; 
Others ruled their willing slave 

With their tiny tyrant ways. 
Time has blent them all for me 
In one golden memory. 



91 



f!{)pnic^' of Hittle 2Bop^ 



HER VALENTINES 

Little maid of former days, 

I can see Love's postman bring 
Youthful plaints in ancient phrase, 

In my mind's fond picturing. 
Tinsel cupids aiming darts ; 

Passioned poems half concealed ; 
W^hat meant scores of paper hearts 

When thine own was unrevealed ? 
Did some half-dreamt dream of thine 
Whisper this year's valentine? 



92 



Ml^prnc^ of %ittlt 25op^ 



BABY JOHN 

The lazy sun is yawning, as it hides 
behind the town, 
For the Sleepy-Time is at hand; 
And cosy beds are calling, as the sun 
goes creeping down, 
To each little boy in the land. 
The organ-man is drowsy as he 
wanders down the street ; 
The leaves are asleep on the tree ; 
And the horses and the wagons and 
the little dogs you meet 
Are as sleepy as they can be. 

Your bed is calling to you, little John^ 

Baby John I 
There's a sleepy chair beside it to hang 

your clothes upon. 
And I hear the cool sheets saying, '' What 

means this long delaying ? 
It is time you stopped your playing. 

Baby John r' 

93 



iH^pme^ of %itt\t 25op^ 



The chairs are all so tired that to 
use them is a sin, 
While the floor is asleep, no doubt, 
And the carpets are the bedclothes 
that snugly tuck it in — 
You'll wake it if you run about ! 
I heard the cuckoo calling from the 
big clock in the hall — 
" Hurry up, little John ! " it said ; 
And the little clock is ticking, half 
asleep against the wall, 
*^Go to bed! Go to bed! Go to bed!'* 

Yoar bed is calling to you, little John, 

Baby John! 
There's a crinkley 'white pillow to rest 

your head upon* 
And the little dreams come creeping, I 

can see them slyly peeping 
To see if you are sleeping. Baby John* 



94 



tiW^t^ «5f ^^^^^"^^ 25op^ 



BABY'S EYES 
Wise is the baby with eyes of brown, 

Clenching each little hand ; 
Wrinkling its forehead into a frown, 

Trying to understand. 
Sweetest and wisest in all the town,— 
Thoughtful baby with eyes of brown. 

Mischievous baby with eyes of blue, 

Laughing at other folk ; 
Planning and plotting the whole day 
through 

Some little baby joke. 
Laughing and happy and clever, 

too, — 
Mischievous baby with eyes of blue. 

Calm is the baby with eyes of gray, 
Sweet little stay-at-home. 

Near to the mother in work and play, 
Never will care to roam. 

More of a comfort from day to day,— 

Calm little baby with eyes of gray. 



95 



iUtjpmc^ of %mlt 25op^ 



Wilful the baby with eyes of black, 

Ruling us more and more. 
Sunbeams follow the storm-cloud's 
track 
Brighter than those before. 
Heart is fonder when smiles come 

back, — 
Wilful baby with eyes of black. 



Q6 



mi^pmc^ of %ittlt 250p^ 



A LULLABY 

Lie still, my little one, shadows are 
falling, 
Closing thy wide-open, wondering 
eyes; 
Hark how the voices of dreamland 
are calling 
Sweet to my little one here where 
she lies. 

Hushaby, baby mine, shadows grow 
deep; 

Shut those blue eyes of thine, lie still 
and sleep. 

Naught is affrighting thee, dreams 
are inviting thee. 

Mother is near to thee — sleep, dar- 
ling, sleep. 



What dost thou see in thy faraway 
gazing ? 
What dost thou say in that cooing 
of thine ? 

97 



ti^l^mtfi of %tttlt 25op^ 



In thy strange tongue is it wisdom 
amazing, 
Wise little visitor, baby of mine ? 

Raindrops are pattering, lull thee to 

rest; 
Birds are all scattering each to its 

nest. 

Darkness enfolding thee, mother is 
holding thee. 

Angels are guarding thee — rest, dar- 
ling, rest. 

• ••••• 

Drowsy, my little one ? Twilight is 
darkening, 
Birds are all twittering sweetly 
good night; 
Whisper thy dreams to me, mother 
is hearkening. 
Listening over thee, clasping thee 
tight. 

Lullaby, little one, sweet be thy 
sleep ; 

98 



^i^pmt$ of %itt\t 23opi^ 



Hushaby, pretty one, slumbering 
deep. 

Darkness may cover thee, angels 
watch over thee, 

Mother is near to thee — sleep, dar- 
ling, sleep. 



LOfc. 



99 



illj)pme^ of %ittlt 2&ov^ 



IN MEMORIAM 

(FRANK R. STOCKTON) 

No story tonight, Dearheart, 
Though the evening lamps are here, 

Though the sun is gone 

And the shades are drawn 
And bed-time hour is near. 

No story tonight, Dearheart, 
And bravely dry your tears; 

What steals the joy 

From a little boy 

Brings sorrow to older years. 

No story tonight, Dearheart, 
And the old Bee-Man of Orn, 

And the Queens and Kings 

And the magic things 

You love, will help you mourn. 

No story tonight, Dearheart, 
Nor chide the voice that fails, 

For Death has willed 

That the heart be stilled 

That wrought those well-loved 
tales. 

100 



Mf^pmt$ of %ittlt 25op^ 



And while we mourn, Dearheart, 

It may be that he sees 
Wee cherubim 
All greeting him 

And flocking round his knees. 



101 



iSfipme^ of little 25op^ 



SLEEPYKINS 

Dearie, all your busy day 
Has belonged to work and play, 
Things to do and things to see, 
Now the hours belong to me ! 
Day is done, and rest begins. 
Are you comfy, Sleepykins? 

Tell me all you've been about 

As you hurried in and out. 

Or let silence, whispering. 

Tell the one important thing. 

Say your prayers and 'fess your sins, 

Cuddle closer, Sleepykins. 

While I pray that no alarms 
Follow you within my arms. 
Smiles may dance or tears may fall. 
Only let me share them all. 
(That sweet place beneath your chin's 
Meant for kisses, Sleepykins !) 

Sleepy, Sweetheart? Leave your 

cares, 
Leave the Daytime's dull affairs. 

102 



iSJjpme^ of %ittlt 25op^ 

Let the love-light swiftly chase 
Tiny wrinkles from your face, — 
Cobwebs such as worry spins — 
Come ! my Sweetheart, Sleepykins. 



103 



SEP 28 1908 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

015 938 640 5 ' 






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